Digital Commons Network^™

Preclinical Fluorescence-Guided Imaging Leveraging Surrounding Sentinel Tumor Microenvironment Identifies High-Risk Premalignant Pancreatic Lesions, Shilpa Sharma, Xiaoxia Wen, Jianbo Wang, Beibei Huang, Denise A Hernandez, Cong-Dat Pham, Zhiwen Liu, Susanne Je-Han Lin, Aiko Yamaguchi, Dimitra K Georgiou, Ryan P Coll, H Charles Manning

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Because surgery is the only potential cure for pancreatic cancer, high-risk premalignant pancreatic lesions often evade detection by palpation or white-light visualization, increasing the risk of recurrence. We asked whether near-infrared fluorescence imaging of tumor-associated inflammation could identify high-risk premalignant lesions, leveraging the tumor microenvironment as a sentinel of local disease and, thus, enhance surgery outcomes.

Experimental design: Fluorescence-guided surgery was performed on genetically engineered mice [Ptf1a-Cre; LSL-KrasG12D/+; Smad4flox/flox (KSC)] at discrete stages of disease progression, histologically confirmed high-risk, premalignant lesions in postnatal mice to locally advanced pancreatic tumors in adults, using the imaging agent V-1520, a translocator protein …

Integrative Proteogenomics And Forward Genetics Reveal A Novel Mitotic Vulnerability In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Nicholas J Neill, Shankha Satpathy, Karsten Krug, Jitendra K Meena, Nivetha Ramesh Babu, Cheyenne Calderon, Desmon Reed, Marcus J Weber, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Alaina Lewis, Christina Sallas, Meenakshi Anurag, Kimberly R Holloway, Chen Huang, Suhas Vasaikar, Maria F Cardenas, Beom-Jun Kim, Doug W Chan, Shayan C Avanessian, Siddhartha Tyagi, Mayra Orellana, Sufeng Mao, Heyuan Li, Fade Gong, Sarah J Kurley, Kristen L Meerbrey, Calla M Olson, Amritha Nair, Tingting Sun, Hsiang-Ching Chung, Elizabeth A Bowling, Jarey H Wang, Pengju Zhang, Peng Xiao, Duxiao Yang, Fabio Stossi, Mei-Yin C Polley, Alexander B Saltzman, Filip Mundt, D R Mani, Michael A Gillette, Susan G Hilsenbeck, George Miles, Carolina Gutierrez, C Kent Osborne, Charles Y Lin, Nathanael S Gray, Jinpeng Sun, David A Wheeler, Charles M Perou, Anna Malovannaya, Michael T Lewis, Bing Zhang, Matthew J Ellis, Steven A Carr, Thomas F Westbrook

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with few effective targeted therapies. Taxanes and other microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are frontline chemotherapies for TNBC; however, the molecular pathways that cause TNBC taxane sensitivity are largely unknown, preventing selection of taxane-responsive patients and development of more selective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we identified tumor-selective vulnerabilities in TNBC harboring inactivation of the tumor suppressor PTPN12 by integrating proteogenomic characterization and synthetic lethality screening. We discovered that PTPN12 inactivation drives mitotic defects through aberrant hyperactivation of the ubiquitin ligase complex APCFZR1, a critical regulator of the cell cycle. Consistent …

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Drives Atrial Fibrillation Through Tnfα Signaling Activation, Ninad Oak, Jose Alberto Navarro-Garcia, Minhua Li, Mara R Turkieltaub Paredes, Satadru K Lahiri, Bharat K Kantharia, Daisuke Nakada, Xander H T Wehrens, Mohit M Hulsurkar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Genetic Contribution To Treatment-Related Dyslipidemia In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: Findings From The Ccss, Sjlife, And Dccss-Later Cohorts, Melissa Bolier, Vincent G Pluimakers, Linda Broer, Sebastian J C M M Neggers, Demi T C De Winter, Fan Wang, Jessica L Baedke, André G Uitterlinden, Kateryna Petrykey, Leontien C M Kremer, Jacqueline J Loonen, Marloes Louwerens, Heleen J Van Der Pal, E Lieke A M Feijen, Kevin C Oeffinger, Rebecca M Howell, Eric J Chow, Wendy M Leisenring, Maria Monica M Gramatges, Lindsay M Morton, Leslie L Robison, Melissa M Hudson, Kirsten K Ness, Yadav Sapkota, Gregory T Armstrong, Smita Bhatia, Yutaka Yasui, Marry M Van Den Heuvel-Eibrink

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Dyslipidemia can occur as a long-term side effect of childhood cancer treatment. The difference in prevalence among children receiving comparable treatment suggests a role for genetic variation. We conducted the first genome-wide association study on dyslipidemia in a large childhood cancer survivor cohort, using three additional cohorts for replication.

Methods: Discovery analysis was performed in the original Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort (N = 4,332). Replication analyses were carried out in the CCSS expansion (N = 2,212), St. Jude Lifetime (N = 2,829), and Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (DCCSS-LATER) (N = 1,814) cohorts. In the CCSS cohorts, …

An Annotated Biobank Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patient-Derived Xenografts Features Treatment-Naïve And Longitudinal Samples During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Amanda L Rinkenbaugh, Yuan Qi, Shirong Cai, Jiansu Shao, Faiza Baameur Hancock, Sabrina L Jeter-Jones, Xiaomei Zhang, Emily Powell, Lei Huo, Rosanna Lau, Chunxiao Fu, Rebekah Gould, Petra Den Hollander, Elizabeth E Ravenberg, Jason B White, Gaiane M Rauch, Banu Arun, Clinton Yam, Alastair M Thompson, Gloria V Echeverria, Stacy L Moulder, W Fraser Symmans, Jeffrey T Chang, Helen Piwnica-Worms

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that fails to respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can be lethal. Developing effective strategies to eradicate chemoresistant disease requires experimental models that recapitulate the heterogeneity characteristic of TNBC. To that end, we established a biobank of 92 orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of TNBC from the tumors of 75 patients enrolled in the ARTEMIS clinical trial (NCT02276443), including 12 longitudinal sets generated from serial patient biopsies collected throughout NACT treatment and from metastatic disease. Models were established from both chemosensitive and chemoresistant tumors, and nearly 30% of the PDX models were capable of metastasizing …

Uav Remote Sensing For Assessment Of Conservative Management Practices In Maize-Soybean Cropping System, Aakriti Poudel

LSU Master's Theses

Sustainable agriculture practices promote cover cropping, which enhances nutrient management and impacts subsequent crop productivity in field crop rotations. Precision agriculture technology, particularly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing, enables a detailed evaluation of crop management. The studies were conducted in a maize-soybean rotation system with winter cover cropping and fallow management. The maize experiment investigated the effect of nitrogen application rates and cover cropping, using UAV-derived Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) to monitor crop performance. NDRE effectively captured the N response and the effect of cover cropping across growth stages, particularly during mid-season (55-81 DAP), where it showed a strong …

Integrating Cereal Rye Cover Crop And Herbicide Programs To Manage Glyphosate-Resistant Italian Ryegrass In The Midsouth, Bhupesh K. Dhaka

LSU Master's Theses

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) has become an economically significant weed management challenge in Louisiana row crop production systems. The problem is further exacerbated by the occurrence of biotypes with resistance to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors—herbicide sites of action (SOAs) commonly used for ryegrass control in soybean (Glycine max) and cotton (Gossypium). Field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments were conducted during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 growing seasons at the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph, LA, and at the LSU AgCenter Weed Science facilities in Baton …

Examining Private Landowner And Stakeholder Attitudes, Perceptions, And Knowledge Of Prescribed Fire In Louisiana, Chloe E. Crawford

LSU Master's Theses

Periodic fire was a primary driver of ecosystems across the Southeastern United States for millennia; however, fire suppression policies have become pervasive in the United States and led to increased fuel loads in forests as well as reduced biodiversity and reduced disease resilience. Prescribed fire presents a risk mitigation strategy and land management tool whereby practitioners can apply fire to the landscape in a controlled manner, thus reaping the benefits of fire while minimizing the risks associated with fire. Land in Louisiana is primarily privately managed and owned, so state-level conservation goals cannot be met without private landowner participation. As …

Reproducing Data Analysis Of A Published Phytoplankton Bioassay Experiment To Learn Standard Error, Alanna L. Lecher

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

The ability to use conversion factors, calculate error, and evaluate the quality of data quantitatively is essential for student success in science fields. Specifically, within biological oceanography, the use of Redfield Ratios to determine nutrient limitation is a base concept. In this Excel-based lesson students reproduce a figure and analysis from a published scientific article detailing a phytoplankton bioassay experiment. As part of the lesson students calculate and propagate error and use Redfield Ratios to determine nutrient limitation. Conflicting quantitative results force students to evaluate the limitations of the experiment and justify their conclusions. Reproducing the results of the published …

Survival And Recovery Of Three Shark Species In North-East Atlantic Recreational Fisheries, Francesco Garzon, Ghalia Abel, Ian Burrett, Owen Exeter, Lucy A. Hawkes, Thomas Horton, Mario Lambrette, Alex Plaster, David Righton, Hannah Rudd, Jessica Rudd, Bryce Stewart, Simon Thomas, James Thorburn, Paul Whittaker, Matthew J. Witt

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Understanding how sharks respond to catch and release (C&R) recreational fisheries is an important requirement for effective management. Post-release survival and recovery in recreational fisheries can be species- and setting-dependent. Nevertheless, no study on sharks has been conducted in European recreational fisheries, despite their popularity as target. This study presents the first example of biologging to assess C&R effects on blue sharks (Prionace glauca), porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) and tope sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) in the UK. Pop-up satellite archival tags (n = 23 blue shark, 20 porbeagle shark, 26 tope shark) revealed high (94.7–96.2%) survival rates in all three species, …

Muscle Fatigue Arising Intrinsically From Sur2- But Not Kir6.1-Dependent Gain-Of-Function In Cantu Syndrome Mice, Rosa Scala, Maya Mukadam, Yuezhou Chen, Courtney Frazier, Nathaniel W York, Robert C Tryon, Gretchen A Meyer, Colin G Nichols

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cantu syndrome (CS) is a rare disease caused by gain-of-function (GOF) mutations of Kir6.1 or SUR2 subunits of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. CS patients with SUR2 and Kir6.1 variants display a similar constellation of symptoms, including muscle weakness and fatigue. The effects of CS mutations on skeletal muscle KATP channels, and any consequent direct effects on contractility, are currently unclear. Here, we used two knock-in mouse models of CS, respectively, carrying GOF mutations Kir6.1[V65M] or SUR2[A478V], to assess KATP channel properties and contractility in isolated fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow-twitch soleus (SOL) muscles. Electrophysiological recordings in isolated myofibers …

Pip2-Driven Cytoplasmic Domain Motions Are Coupled To Kir2 Channel Gating, Eva-Maria Zangerl-Plessl, Anna Stary-Weinzinger, Colin G Nichols, Sun-Joo Lee

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channel activity is important in the control of membrane potentials in both excitable and non-excitable cells and is regulated through various ligands, including specific membrane lipids. Phosphatidyl-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is required for activity of all Kir channels, binding to the cytoplasmic domain in a compact conformation tightly tethered to the transmembrane domain. Most Kir2 channel structures determined in complex with PIP2 molecules are nevertheless in a closed state, requiring additional conformational changes for channel opening. We have carried out full atomistic MD simulations, which indicate PIP2-dependent conformational changes that are coupled to opening and closing of the …

Physical Activity And Molecular Subtypes Of Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Observational Analysis And Mendelian Randomization Study, Christos V Chalitsios, Yin Cao, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is associated with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but its association with molecular subtypes defined by genetic and epigenetic alterations of the disease is unclear. Such information may enhance the understanding of the mechanisms related to the benefits of physical activity.

METHODS: Pooled observational (cases: n = 5386; controls: n = 6798; studies n = 5) and genome-wide association data (cases: n = 8178; controls: n = 10 472; studies n = 5) were used. We used multivariable logistic regression models and Mendelian randomization to assess the association between physical activity and the risk of CRC subtypes …

Overexpression Of The Signaling Coordinator Gab2 Can Play An Important Role In Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression, Michael H. Kramer, Stephanie N. Richardson, Yang Li, Tiankai Yin, Nichole M. Helton, Daniel R. George, Michelle Cai, Sai Mukund Ramakrishnan, Casey Ds Katerndahl, Christopher A. Miller, Timothy J. Ley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Mutations that initiate acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can cause clonal expansion without transformation (clonal hematopoiesis). Cooperating mutations, usually in signaling genes, are needed to cause overt disease, but these may require a specific fitness state to be tolerated. Here, we show that nearly all AMLs arising in a mouse model expressing 2 common AML-initiating mutations (Dnmt3aR878H and Npm1cA) acquired a single copy amplification of chromosome 7 (chr7), followed by activating mutations in signaling genes. We show that overexpression of a single gene on chr7 (Gab2, which coordinates signaling pathways) was tolerated in the presence of the Npm1cA mutation, could accelerate …

The Security Trilemma: A Critical Research Agenda, Adem Yavuz Elveren, David M. Fields

Working Papers

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Texas A&M Law Review

Front Matter.

Causation’S Due Process Dimensions, Cassandra Burke Robertson, Charles W. “Rocky” Rhodes

Texas A&M Law Review

For decades, courts have grappled with the tension between compensating victims of mass harms and maintaining fairness to defendants when causation is difficult to prove. This Article argues that the Supreme Court’s due process jurisprudence provides a relevant framework for navigating this tension. We contend that the Court over the last three decades has established a consistent Fourteenth Amendment due process approach in punitive damages and personal jurisdiction cases, which is rooted in antecedents tracing to the nineteenth century and relies on a nexus of interests that balances individual rights, state interests, and federalism concerns. This framework, we argue, has …

Discerning Interstate Groundwater Law: An Evaluation Of Federal Common Law And Its Impacts On Groundwater Management, Brooke Collishaw

Texas A&M Law Review

The Supreme Court has demonstrated a superficial understanding of ground water over the last century in interstate water disputes. In cases that indirectly affect groundwater, it has ignored the complexities of the resource and its connection with surface water. All but one Supreme Court case that mentions groundwater centers around surface water, leading to the inadequate consideration of groundwater. This has led to the development of a unique federal common law for how federal courts are to resolve interstate water disputes that affect groundwater. While the Court has applied the law consistently, gaps exist. Given the growing reliance on cross-border …

Proteomic Perspectives On Kras-Driven Cancers And Emerging Therapeutic Approaches, Ramesh Karki, Ru Chen, Sheng Pan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

KRAS mutations are implicated in approximately 23% of all human malignancies, with particularly high prevalence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) (~92%), colorectal cancer (CRC) (~49%), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (~35%). The recent approval of the KRASG12C-specific inhibitors for NSCLC represents a pivotal advancement in KRAS-targeted therapy. Nevertheless, the emergence of intrinsic and acquired resistance to KRAS-targeted therapies poses a significant clinical obstacle to targeting KRAS, which necessitates a deeper understanding of the resistance mechanisms. Recent progress in proteomic studies has enabled comprehensive profiling of the proteomic alterations driven by KRAS mutations, offering valuable insights into the disrupted KRAS …

Characterization Of Androctonus Mauritanicus Venom And In Vitro Screening Of Sars-Cov-2 Entry Inhibitors Candidates, Reda Chahir, Jacob Galan, Hicham Hboub, Ahmed Salim Lahlou, Salma Chakir, Hinde Aassila, Reda Ben Mrid, Najat Bouchmaa, Reto Stöcklin, Rachid El Fatimy, Naoual Oukkache

Human Genetics Publications

Animal venom, known for its complex biochemical composition, presents a valuable source of therapeutic molecules, particularly for antiviral applications. Despite this potential, the industrial use of venom remains limited, with fewer than a dozen venom-derived compounds reaching commercial markets. This study underscores the significance of exploring venom’s natural diversity as a reservoir for novel bioactive compounds that could drive innovative drug development. We investigated the venom of the Moroccan black scorpion Androctonus mauritanicus (Am), applying solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to fractionate the venom into 80 distinct samples. These fractions were subjected to detailed analysis …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An Immediate Solution For Farms Without Reliable Wi-Fi, Dermott Harkin, Martin Bradley

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Voices Matter: Tackling Accentism In Ireland. A Study Addressing Accent-Based Discrimination Awareness In Education, Sadhbh Reddington, Victoria Graham, Holly Jordan, Mairead Moriarty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Income Inequality And Attitudes Towards Immigrants – How Increased Inequality Drives Division, Niamh Anderson, Vincent O'Sullivan

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Supporting Single Parents: How Loneliness And Self-Stigma Can Impact Single Parents And Their Quality Of Life, Alana Powell, David Mothersill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Unheard And Underserved: Exploring Support For Male Victims Of Partner Abuse, Michael Keenan, Colletta Dalikeni

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland Blossoms Through Multiculturalism - Designing For Community Connection, Julia Kuczera, Shirley Casey, Hilary Kenna

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Assessing Demand And Simulating Feasibility For Commuter Rail In Lagging Regional Areas. Case Study: Sligo, Holly Briere-Edney, Brian Mccann

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland's Infrastructure: From Delays To Deliveries!, Conor Barnett, Keren Goodman

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

A Fast-Track Way To Identify Derelict And Vacant Homes For Refurbishment, Dylan O'Donnell, Enda Dunican

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.